| "The Rule of Names" |
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| Country | United States |
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| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
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| Published in | Fantastic |
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| Publication type | Magazine |
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| Media type | Print |
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| Publication date | 1964 |
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| Series | Earthsea |
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"The Rule of Names" is a short story by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin, first published in the April 1964 issue of Fantastic and reprinted in collections such as The Wind's Twelve Quarters. This story and "The Word of Unbinding" convey Le Guin's initial concepts for the Earthsea realm, including its places and physical manifestation. Most of the characters from the novels do not make an appearance, with the exception of the dragon Yevaud. Both stories help explain the foundations of the Earthsea realm, in particular the importance of true names to magic.